New public square around Rochdale train station gets go ahead
The Station Square project is set to transform the area around the town's station
A new public square in Rochdale has been given the go-ahead. The Station Square project will transform the area leading to the town centre’s train station.
The council forged ahead with the ambitious plans despite losing out on £20m in ‘Levelling Up’ cash earlier this year. The town hall submitted a planning application for the multi-million pound scheme.
The area is a key gateway into the borough. Street art, better signage, enhanced lighting and improved walking and cycling routes are part of the plan.
The current taxi rank will be moved to ‘reconnect’ the station to shops and businesses in the centre.
“The proposed scheme presents a major regeneration opportunity for the area, comprising an improved public realm that will provide a new entrance to Rochdale,” a planning statement read. “The public realm, located to the north of the railway station, will provide a civic space for local communities.
“The investment in this area will act as a catalyst for further investment into Rochdale, and support wider regeneration initiatives in the town and the Borough. The scheme has been designed with two distinct character typologies; streets and square.”
The approved proposals are part of a wider rail strategy, which aims to regenerate brownfield areas around the borough’s five railway stations – building 7,000 new homes and a million sq m of new employment space. Bosses hope more than 1,000 new homes could also be built near the station itself, as well as green spaces.
That element would include 200 apartments and houses on the site of the former Central Retail Park. The development – Station Gardens – was also part of the rejected levelling up bid.
Coun John Blundell, cabinet member for economy and regeneration, earlier said Station Square is ‘a really important part of the borough and the first place many of our visitors see when they arrive’.
He said: “At the moment it’s an underwhelming space, which does little to hint at the fantastic town centre and wider area which lies just beyond. By relocating traffic from directly in front of the station, we’ll create a really attractive space where people can relax and enjoy the area and businesses will benefit from the extra footfall and space.
“It will also better connect it to the town centre and enable people to get around more easily and sustainably.”